Picture book



PICTURE BOOK Filed Oct. 25, 1947 HG. 7 C

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Patented Mar. 27, 1951 PICTURE BOOK Frederick Townley, Acton, England, assignor to Folding Books Limited, London, England, a limited liability joint-stock company of Great Britain Application October 25, 1947, Serial No. 782,132

In Great Britain May 13, 1947 8 Claims. (Cl. 46-34) The present invention relates to pictures books or the like, which are sometimes known as toy books, and has for its object to provide an improved form of picture book of the kind which when opened displays a stage-like scene, having a plurality of cut out pictorial parts disposed in receding planes one behind the other in front oi a background scene.

Hitherto such picture books have had the component parts of the scene, in iront of the background, connected to the surfaces of the pages or covers forming the background, by hinge tabs secured Aby adhesive to the background pages or covers.

According to the main feature of the invention cut out sheets picturing planes of the scene in front of the background, are connected to the free edges of a folding background sheet or cover, and are of decreasing side to side length as their planes are advanced forwardly from the background. The front sheet preferably represents a proscenium opening, and is flat when the scene is fully displayed, with the intermediate picture sheets spaced successively further back towards the background sheet; when the two halves of the background sheet are closed together face to face, the cut out sheets fold along central creases within the folded background sheet.

According to another feature of the present invention the book comprises a pair of hinged covers, which when fully opened and held tof gether back to back may display a sequence of three or more scenes simultaneously.

.Alternatively the invention may be applied to a picture book ,having only a lsingle scene, or twov scenes, which isor'are displayed byonly a partial '.spreading apart of the outside covers, the; inner surfaces of the outside covers, in the formerl case, constituting the background of the scene displayed when the covers are opened to their full extent, which extent is limited by the width of the front proscenium sheet.

YAccording to still another'feature of the invention, in the case when a sequence of scenes is displayed'when the covers are fully opened, the book is built up from as many continuous strips of picture elements as there are planes in the scenes, each strip containing sheets appertaining to the same picture plane in the several scenes, the said strips and their individual seca tions being all of the same width (vertical height) but of different lengths (side to side width) these strips are folded back along the vertical lines between the cut out picture sections relating to adjacent scenes, and superimposed one upon the r or sewing; the extreme ends of the strips are se other in their correct relation; the strips are then secured together, along the fold lines between adjacent picture sections as by adhesive cured to the edges of the covers of the book,

whilst the background sheets only of adjacent scenes are stuck together, or are held together back to back by a stiffening strip of cardboard gummed between them, adjacent to the vertical creases in the centres of the picture sections. The strip forming the front planes of the scenes will consist entirely of cut out sections forming a succession of proscenium openings; the back' ground strip'will not be a cut out strip, but the strips for the intermediate planes of the scene'i will be cut out and` consist of a succession of` picture sections appertaining respectively to the Y' series of scenes.

In order that the invention may be companying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 6 illustrate the construction of a picl ture book according to the invention in its sim-vA plest form, Figure 1 being a part elevation of the book opened to display the picture, Figure 2 being a plan view thereof, Figure 3 being an end fview of the book when partially open, and Figures 4, 5 and 6 showing respectively the three picture forming cut out sheets.

Figures 7-13 illustrate the construction of al multiple picture book for displaying a series of i four pictures simultaneously,rwhen fully opened;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the book when fully opened; Figure is a plan viewFigures 9-12v show the four' multiple cut out sheets used' in constructing the book and Figure 13 is ap'era'.;l

spective view of the book when closed.

Referring to Figures 1 6, the book Vcomprisesi a pair of hinged cardboard or like covers "e ei'. which are internally covered' .byi'a centrally i creased background picture sheet d. To the freej edges of the covers e e are attached insuperposition, by marginal strips m m, three cut out sheets a, b, c, of which sheeta is cut out with a lpro.` scenium or` frame opening, sheet b represents a foreground picture plane, and sheet c represents.y

an intermediate picture plane. `These sheets a,

sheets in rear of them visible.

Furthermore the sheets a, b, c, are of progresslvely increasing side tov side length, such that` clearly understood and readily carried into practice it is' 1 illustrated, by way of example only, by the ac-L' 2,546,878 Y i f when the covers e, e, are spaced apart to the maximum desired extent, the first sheet a is stretched substantially flat land the two intermediate sheets b, c are not fully opened and take up positions intermediate between the background sheet d and the front sheet a, corresponding to the planes of the picture which they represent.

It will be appreciated that the greater the an gular spread of the covers e, e, the less will be the depth of the picture, and the closer Will the several planes of the picture come together, whilst the smaller its angular spread the greaterwili be the depth of the picture and the greater the spacing of the picture planes formed by the cut out sheets b, c, between the first or proscenium sheet a, and the background sheet d. Most conveniently, although not essentially, the angular spread may be about 90 to givev `the best effect.

Preferably the picture book incorporates a series of pictures which can all be fully displayed at the same time by opening the covers ie, e, to the maximum extent of 360, so that they come back to back and can then be fastened together. Such a construction is illustrated by Figures 7-13, for the case when four pictures are displayed at a time, each having an angular spread of 90.

v'The method of constructing such a multiple scene picture book constitutes an important part of the invention, inasmuch as the corresponding planes of the sequence of pictures are printed on continuous strips of paperor other suitable material, as illustrated by Figures 9-l2. These strips are of progressively decreasing overall length from side to side, and all the strips a, b, c, in front of the background sheet d (Figure 9) have marginal strips m by which they are secured by adhesive to the outer edges of the covers e, e, in superposition.

Along the dividing lines between the adjacent picture sections d, d, e, e, etc. the sheets are folded back to back to form central vertical creases, and the several sheets are fastened together in superposition along these creases, as by wire staples g. These stapled edges constitute the edges of the intermediate pages of the book. Centrally between the side edges of each picture section the sheets are folded and creased vertically in the reverse direction, as apparent from Figures 7 and 8, Whilst the adjacent halves of the adjacent picture sections d, d, etc. of the background .sheet are fastened together back 'to back by means of filler strips f, which are secured by adhesive to the .sheets along each side of the central creases. I These filler strips f, between the edges of the other fastening means, such as clips, whereby the covers e, e, can be tied together to hold the book closed, as in Figure 13, or tied together back to back when fully opened, as in Figures 7 and 8.

It will be appreciated that the above method ofconstructing a multiple picture book is particu'larly suitable for rapid manufacture by mawork is eliminated.

-t should be understood that with the above f multiple picture book construction, the pictures need not be displayed simultaneously, since it is possible to open the pagesv one at a time by only partially opening thev -covers e, e, 'to displayany v selectedpicture, the remaining pages vbeing held closed against the cover or covers e, e. Fur-thermore itis not essential for the covers e, e; to @me '65 chinery, since the necessity for allhand assembly v1 back to back when all the pictures are fully displayed; for example the maximum angular opening of the covers may be 180, or 270, and since the number of pictures displayed will depend upon their angular spread, if three pictures are to be displayed their angular spread will be 60 for 1800 maximum opening of the covers, or

with a 270 opening of the covers.

Although in the example described and illustrated in Figures '7 and 13, only four pictures can be displayed simultaneously, if the maximum angle of spread is reduced the number of pictures displayed `can be correspondingly increased. e. g. 6 pictures of 60 angular spread can be displayed simultaneously.

If, however, it is not desired to display all the ictures simultaneously, any desired number of pages and pictures, each being of any suitable angle of spread, may be provided between the covers, each picture then being displayed one at a time. The method of construction of the book as a whole will, however, be otherwise the` same.

The effect produced by the pictures displayed,

particularly when 'a complete series of pictures isl simultaneously displayed, may be greatly improved if they are artiicially illuminated from above by an electric lamp, below which the scenev or group of scenes is or are placed, the best effect being obtained when the lamp is iitted with an opaque conical shade contacting with the top edge of the book, which serves `to conceal directA rays of light from the eyes of the observer. l

I claim:

l. A picture book' including a folding back-I ground sheet having a single intermediate fold with the two resulting portions thereof capable of being brought together inl substantially coextensive relation; and a plurality of folding cutout sheets secured in superposition at both endsV successively greater distances from, and in front' of, said background sheet.

2. A picture book including a folding background sheet having a single intermediate fold' With the two resulting portions thereof capable of being brought together in substantially coextensive relation; a plurality of folding cut-out sheets secured in superposition at both ends thereof exclusively to the outer free end edges'2 ofthe background sheet, said folding cut-out* sheets 'being of progressively decreasing side to side length, so that when the background sheet is fully opened, said folding cut-out sheets assumel a series of positions in which they are spaced successively greater distances from, and in front of; said background sheet, the uppermost of the folding cut-out sheets including a front sheet cut with a proscenium opening, and the intermediate'.

folding cut-out sheets including a plurality of picture sheets representing intermediate picture planes. 3. In a multiple picture book comprising a plurality of folding pictures disposed between a pair of covers and adapted to be simultaneously displayed in relatively adjacent positions when-the covers are spread open, the combination, with a pair of cover members connected together, of'

a plurality of continuous folding sheets having marginal strips securing the same exclusively-.t0 fthe outer free ends of the cover members, with said folding sheets spanning the distance between the cover members and being secured thereto in a superposed'series, in which series the sheets are successively decreased in side to side length from the background sheet to the outermost sheet and intermediately spaced apart successively greater distances from said background sheet in open position of said cover members.

4. In a multiple picture book comprising a plurality of folding pictures disposed between a pair of covers and adapted to be simultaneously displayed in relatively adjacent positions when the covers are spread open, the combination, with a pair of cover members connected together, of a folding picture background sheet secured directly to the inner sides of the cover members; a plurality ofcontinuous folding sheets having marginal strips securing the same exclusively to the outer free ends of the cover members, with said folding sheets spanning the distance between the cover members and being secured thereto in a superposed series, in which series the sheets are successively decreased in side to side length from the background sheet to the outermost sheet and intermediately spaced apart successively greater distances from said background sheet in open position of said cover members.

5.` In a multiple picture book comprising a plurality of folding pictures disposed between protecting covers and adapted to be simultaneously displayed in relative adjacent positions when the covers are spread open, the combination, of a pair of cover members connected together; a plurality of book sheets secured to and located sub stantially coextensively between said cover members in closed position of the latter; and a plurality of continuous picture sheets folded alternately outwardly and inwardly and secured at the outward folds in superposed relation exclusively to the outer free ends of the cover members and the book sheets therebetween, the resulting two respectively adjacent inwardly folding sections of each picture sheet forming complementary portions of one of the pictures to be displayed between two of said book sheets or between one of the latter and one of said cover members, and inwardly folding sections in each case increasing in side to side length from the outermost picture sheet inwardly and the innermost sheet being directly attached to the inner facing sides of each adjacent pair of book sheets or of one of the latter and one of said cover members to form background sections, the arrangement being such that said picture sheets in each group of sections in one opening of the book appertain to a common picture and assume a series of positions in which they are spaced successively greater distances outward from the background sheet to the outermost sheet in the open position of said multiple picture book when said cover members are disposed back to back,

6. In a multiple picture book comprising a plurality of folding pictures disposed between protecting covers and adapted to be simultaneously displayedin relative adjacent positions when the coversfare spread open, the combination, of a pair of cover members connected together; a plurality of filler strips secured between the inner edges of the cover members to form with said inner edges the back of the book; a plurality of book sheets attached at the inner end edges thereof to said ller strips located substantially coextensively between said cover members in closed position of the latter; and a plurality of continuous picture sheets folded alternately outwardly and inwardly and secured at the outward folds in superposed relation exclusively to the outer free ends of the cover members andthe book sheets therebetween, the resulting two re; spectively adjacent inwardly folding sections of each picture sheet forming complementary portions of one of the pictures to be displayed between two of said book sheets or between one of the latter and one of said cover members, and inwardly folding sections in each case increasing in side to side length from the outermost picture sheet inwardly and the innermost sheet being directly attached to the inner facing sides of each adjacent pairof book sheets or of oneof the latter and one of said cover members to form backe ground sections, the arrangement being such that said picture sheets in each group of sections in one opening of the book appertain to a common picture and assume a series of positions in which they are spaced successively greater distances outward from the background sheet to the outermost sheet in the open position of said multiple picture book when said cover members are disposed back to back.

7. In a multiple picture book comprising a plurality of folding pictures disposed between protecting covers and adapted to be simultaneously displayed in relative adjacent positions when the covers are spread open, the combination, of a pair of cover members connected together; a plurality of book sheets secured to and located substantially coextensively between said cover members in closed position of the latter; and a plurality of 'continuous picture sheets folded alternately outwardlyl and inwardly and secured at the outward folds in superposed relation exclusively to the outer free ends of the cover members and the book sheets therebetween; the pictures on each picture sheet having an aggregate'angle of substantially 360 so that when the cover members are fully open and disposed back to back, all the pictures are simultaneously displayed, the resulting two respectively adjacent inwardly folding sections of each picture sheet forming com- )elementary portions of one of the pictures to be displayed between two of said book sheets or between one of the latter and one of said cover members, and the inwardly folding sections in each case increasing in side to side length from the outermost picture sheet inwardly and the innermost sheet being directly attached to the inner facing sides of each adjacent pair of book sheets or of one of the latter and one of said cover members to form background sections, the arrangement being such that said picture sheets in each group of sections in one opening of the book appertain to a common picture and assume a series of positions in which they are spaced successively greater distances outward from the background sheet to the outermost sheet in the open position of said multiple picture book when said cover members are disposed back to back.

8. In a multiple picture book comprising a plurality of folding pictures disposed between protecting covers and adapted to be simultaneously displayed in relative adjacent positions when the covers are spread open, the combination, of a pair of cover members connected together; a plurality of book sheets secured to and located substantially coextensively between said cover members in closed position of the latter; means for fastening the cover members together back to back; and a plurality of continuous picture sheets folded alternatively outwardly and inwardly and secured at the outward folds in superposed rela- 7 tion exclusively to the outer free ends of the 'cover members and the book sheets therebetween; the pictures on each picture sheet having an aggregate angle of substantially 360 so that when the cover members are fully open and disposed back to back, all the pictures are simultaneously displayed; the resulting two respectively adjacent inwardly folding sections of each picture sheet forming complementary portions of one of the pictures to be displayed between two of said book sheets or between one of the latter and one of said cover members, and the inwardly folding sections in each case increasing n side to side length from the outermost picture sheet inwardly and the innermost sheet being directly attached to the inner facing sides of each adjacent pair of book sheets or of one of the latter and one of said cover members to form background sections, the

arrangement being such that said .picturesheets in each group of sections in one opening ofthe book appertain to a common picture and assume a series of positions in which they are spaced successively greater distances outward from the background sheet to the outermost sheet in the open position of said multiple picture book when said cover members are disposed back to back.

FREDERICK TOWNLEY. I

REFERENCES CITED Number Country 15,476 Great Britain 191,2

Great Britain Nov. 8, 1938 

